In a recent development regarding the Patanjali misleading advertising case, the Supreme Court has granted Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna an exemption from appearing in the next hearing.
However, the Court emphasized that this exemption applies only to the upcoming hearing and not beyond.
The Court took a stern stance against Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna for failing to submit the original copy of the apology published in newspapers.
Mukul Rohatgi, representing Baba Ramdev, stated during the hearing that they had submitted the apology paper to the registry.
The Court, however, questioned why the original records were not submitted and why e-filing was opted for instead.
Noting a serious lack of communication, the Supreme Court remarked on the apparent deliberate actions, acknowledging the astuteness of the lawyers involved.
Furthermore, Ramdev’s lawyer attributed the oversight to potential ignorance, to which the Court responded by appreciating their understanding of the significance of the matter.
The Court directed Baba Ramdev to submit only the newspaper publication and the date’s apology, scheduling the next hearing for May 14th.
During the proceedings, Mukul Rohatgi mentioned that the president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had given an interview. He raised questions about the Court’s comments from the previous hearing.
The Court instructed that the president’s statement should be formally put on record, highlighting the gravity of the matter.
Uttarakhand Authority Imposes Ban on 14 Products
Meanwhile, the state licensing authority has imposed a ban on 14 products from Patanjali Ayurved and Divya Pharmacy. This move follows the company’s dissemination of misleading advertisements about their products.
The Supreme Court further indicated that other companies engaged in misleading advertising would also be subject to investigation.
The Court’s inquiries extended to the actions taken by the central government against companies involved in deceptive advertising. It also questions the prescribing practices of allopathic doctors and the potential repercussions for knowingly prescribing expensive medicines.
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